PRESIDENT S NEWS DIGEST 3 APRIL 2016 Issue 22 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Last week the University was very busy with plenty of events and activities. Message from the President The Loss of A Great Architect and an Inspirational Leader Job Fair at Applied Science University Football Tournament Workshops Organised by Student Affairs ASU Students Participated In ACCA Business Challenge Workshop on "Launch Your Business Through Social Media IT & Social Media Working Group Session Dr. Hooriya Aldeeb Received Award Fifth Research Seminar Series at the College of Administrative Sciences The International Conference On 29 March, and under the patronage of HE Jameel Bin Mohamed Hmaidan, the Minister of Labor and Social Development, the University's 4th Career Fair hosted around 25 companies from the public and private sector. The chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof Waheeb Alkhaja was present amongst many other senior colleagues. The fair was organised by the Deanship of Students Affairs and Evening Studies and the great effort by Ms Noora Almusalem should be acknowledged. On 25 March, our Student Council and in collaboration with the Deanship of Students Affairs and Evening Studies organised a very successful students football tournament and the great effort by Ustaz Mohammed Alnajjar is acknowledged. On 30 March, the University hosted a workshop on IT and social media to support entrepreneurs organised by Venus Interiors International and the American Embassy. HE the American Ambassador was present, and a welcoming speech was made by Dr Assem. The workshop was brought to the University through the great effort of Prof Saad. On the same evening, the President attended a dinner for Universities Presidents in Bahrain hosted by HE the British Ambassador. On 31 March, the fifth research seminar series organised by Dr Ramzi was delivered by Prof Saad and covered 21 st Century Skills in Bahrain. Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industrial Practice Office No: (+973) 16036161 Email: tania.kashou@asu.edu.bh On 27 March, the President and VP Academic Affairs attended the 8th International Youth Conference under the Patronage of HH, Sheikh Naser Bin Hamad AlKhalifah which was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. HH, Shiekh Naser made an inspirational speech about leadership and success. Some of our students attended this event. 1
THE LOSS OF A GREAT ARCHITECT AND AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER Architect Dame Zaha Hadid, whose designs include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, has died aged 65. Iraqi-born, this year she was the first woman to receive the Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal in recognition of her work. She died following a heart attack on Thursday in a Miami hospital, where she was being treated for bronchitis. Her designs have been commissioned around the world, including Hong Kong, Germany and Azerbaijan. Collecting her Gold Medal in February, Dame Zaha said she was proud to have been the first woman to win in her own right. "We now see more established female architects all the time," she said. "That doesn't mean it's easy. Sometimes the challenges are immense. There has been tremendous change over recent years and we will continue this progress." In 2012 Zaha Hadid was awarded the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's birthday honours list for her services to architecture. Dame Zaha's other creations include the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London, the Riverside Museum at Glasgow's Museum of Transport, and Guangzhou Opera House in China. She twice won the RIBA Stirling Prize, the UK's most prestigious architecture award. In 2010 she won the Maxxi Museum in Rome, winning again in 2011 for the Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton. Born in Baghad, she studied maths at Beirut University before embarking on her career at the Architectural Association in London. In 1979 she set up her own company - Zaha Hadid Architects. Her first major commission to be constructed was the Vitra Fire Station in Weil am Rhein in Germany. The striking London Acquatics Centre in Stratford, which resembles a wave, features two 50-metre pools and a diving pool. After being used for the Olympics and Paralympics it was opened to the public in 2014. "I love the London Aquatics Centre because it's near where I live," Dame Zaha said at the time. She designed one of the stadiums that will take centre stage at the Qatar World Cup in 2022. May her soul rest in peace (BBC Website) 2
JOB FAIR AT APPLIED SCIENCE UNIVERSITY The Director of Career Development and Alumni office, Ustaza Noora Musalam, organised an extremely successful Job Fair at Applied Science University that took place on Tuesday, 29 March 2016. This event was under the Patronage of His Excellency Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Hamaidan - The Labour and Social Development Minister and the invitation was under the name of Professor Ghassan Aouad, the President of the University. A great support was apparent throughout the event from Professor Waheeb Alkhaja, the Chairman of the Board of trustees, the VPs, and all College Deans. 25 companies participated in this great event that indeed will support and motivate our students to find suitable job opportunities locally, nationally and beyond. FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT The Deanship of Student Affairs and Evening Studies, and the Student Council organised a football tournament on 25 March 2016. The event was supervised by Mr Mohammed Najjar, Director of Students Services Office. The event was indeed very successful, and well organised, with a great number of students participating to the football tournament. Eight teams played and the three winner teams were as follows with their respective Team Captain (3rd place; Team Etihad, Captain Ahmed Buhamood, 2nd place; Shabab Etadbikia, Captain Salem Al Athem; 1st place United, Captain Hasan Bucheeri. Please refer to some of photos that illustrate this event with great students sport spirit. 3
WORKSHOPS ORGANISED BY STUDENT AFFAIRS As part of the job fair, three workshops were organised by Ustaza Noora Musalam, that took place at the Applied Science University, and were presented by Dr Rawya Zamari, The Director of Counselling Office, entitled Employment Skills that emphasis on the importance skills in the job market, including; leadership, effective communication, Problem- Solving, Development of self-confidence, collaboration work/ team work and decision making. Mr Salah El kouhji, from Zain company, presented a workshop on How to Excel in the job Market. The workshop was informative and well attended. It explained how to get a perfect CV, and job interviews. Another workshop was offered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, and presented by Rehab Al-haddad from the Ministry training center, entitled The Secret to Succeed in Career Development. The workshop was very interesting indeed, and also well attended by our graduating students. ASU STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ACCA BUSINESS CHALLENGE Last week, ASU students have made us proud. Eight of our students (divided into two groups) from the Accounting and Finance Department, College of Administrative Sciences, participated in the ACCA Business Challenge. Out of eight groups from different universities, ASU secured the third place behind University of Bahrain which came second and Bahrain Polytechnic that took the first place. ASU created history by securing 100 out 100 in the Income statement. The Programme Head of ACCA, Ms Fazeela said that it was a perfect score and she never witnessed such a perfect income statement in any of the Business Challenge games held before. For ASU, this was our first experience and hope to participate in such challenges in the years ahead. A big congratulations to all our participants. 4
WORKSHOP ON "LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA" ASU Community Engagement Office with the coordination of Dr. Mohammad Alaa Al-Hamami hosted a workshop on "Launch your Business through Social Media" on 26 March 2016. The workshop was organised by Social Media Club Bahrain Chapter and presented by the social media Coach, Ali Sabkar, President of Scoial Media Club MENA. Dr. Mohammad Alaa Al-Hamami has dedicated a copy of his book "Concepts and Applications of Modern Security Methods in Electronic Verification" to the active participant in the workshop. This workshop came within the social media programme for professionals, launched by Social Media Club in collaboration with Applied Science University, which aimed to reach 250 professional Bahrainis in the field of social media and enhance their knowledge and skills. It provided unprecedented opportunities to the trainees to gage their information and engage in fruitful discussions with international experts conducive to see the rich and benefit from their experiences. IT & SOCIAL MEDIA WORKING GROUP SESSION On 20 March 2016, Venus Interiors International in cooperation with the Embassy of the United Staes of America in collaboration with Prof Saad Darwish and ASU Community Engagement Office organised IT & Social Media Working Group session, entitled The Impacts: IT & Social Media. The topics covered entrepreneurship issues and new trends in USA. Distinguished speakers gave lectures on their experiences and how our educational system would benefit from it as well as encouraging youth to go for entrepreneurship. "THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE" Around 25 ASU students participated in "The International Conference" that took place at the University of Bahrain between 28 to 30 March 2016. Seven other Universities participated inthis event. ASU students delegation was supervised by Mr Thaer Tamini, who reported that the conference was very useful to our students which covered the following main points; encouraging students and teaching them how to succeed before they reach age of thirty, encouraging students on self-reliance without relying on others like family and friends, listening to others experiences, understanding that failing isn't the end of the world; in fact it's just the start, reaching dreams and goals, and finally how important to put our own print in the world. 5
FIFTH RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES AT THE COLLEGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES The College of Administrative Sciences has organised its fifth research seminar series on 31 March 2016 entitled 21st Century Skills: Where are we in the Arab World?, delivered by Prof Saad Darwish. Professor Saad presented his thoughts on the new set of skills that characterise the 21st century's needs in terms of knowledge and education. In one of his quote, he provides the following definition of 21st century skills: It is a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are believed by educators, school reformers, college professors, employers, and others to be critically important to success in today s world, particularly in collegiate programs and modern careers. This seminar is to be developed to a research project with colleagues from the College of Administrative Sciences, Dr Marawn Abdldayem and Prof Siddiq from College of Arts & Sciences. The attendees discussed the topic with enthusiasm and Prof Ghassan led the discussion pointing the importance of this seminar to all our colleagues. BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRIAL PRACTICE On 30 March, Mr. Mohammed Abdulla Bucheeri, Founder & Managing Director of Sketch Media design office was hosted by Professor Samya EL Shenawi of the department of Design and Art and delivered a guest lecture on the relation between labor market and academic practice. DR. HOORIYA ALDEEB RECEIVED AWARD The lecture was attended by students and staff and was well received. The students were given a great opportunity to gain knowledge of the labour market and how to represent and communicate their ideas within different cultural setting. Following his talk, a very fruitful Discussion took place with staff to access how Graphic Design programmes can be fit for purpose for the market needs and requirements of graduates. On 31 March, Dr. Hooriya Aldeeb, Director of the Community Engagement Office and Assistant Professor of Business Administration, received award from the Institution of the National Charter for being selected the Ideal Teacher at the level of Bahrain. Congratulations! 6
REMINDER OF THE WEEK QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Leadership is an action, not a position." Donald McGannon Enjoy Reading 7